Anyone have an opnion on what game is more difficult, 14/1 or One Pocket.
I think Straight Pool, as one goof, and you may never get to shoot again.
I think Straight Pool, as one goof, and you may never get to shoot again.
Harder Game to Play: One Pocket, or Straight Pool aka 14/1
- Thread starter CocoboloCowboy
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Both are very hard games to excel at. Maybe fewer nuances to Straight Pool, you simply have to be a very good pool player to play it well. You do need to understand the pack and how clusters of balls interact. One Pocket on the other hand, is all about subtleties and clever shots. Knowledge is everything in One Pocket.
Very Good Answer Jay !
I am a 14.1'er so my opinion is a bit swayed, although i do love to play 1 pocket from time to time. i love the strategy behind 1 pocket, you really need a sense of ball speed. and how every shot can be faught with peril.
-Steve
Babe Cranfield
He once said 9 ball is idiots delight however lets see a good nine ball player run a rack without touching a rail!
He once said 9 ball is idiots delight however lets see a good nine ball player run a rack without touching a rail!
14.1 and 1hole require alot more of cueball control then the average game of 9 ball or 8 ball imo. I do believe that 14.1 requires alot more of skill all around to play then 1hole. You can still win in 1hole without being great at pocketing balls. My $.02
I think they are both very hard in their own ways. In straight pool to obtain a high run you need to be precise on what ball to leave last in order to break out the rack. Its amazing to think of all the high runs out there and how hard it would be to do that. One pocket is very tough as well. There is so much to pay attention to your object ball the cue ball and all of the other balls your opponent could possibly have a shot at. I of course could go on and on but i think im 50/50 on this one maybe with a slight lean towards straight pool being harder. JMO.
In the world of pool today, 1 pocket is about the only game left where one wil see the complete game. Cue ball control is most important as without it, you are screwed. Shot making is important, but knowing when to fly and when not to is more important than some times the shot itself. At last banking. if you can't bank at least decently, you are screwed! How many games do we see where a guy needs one ball and they are all down table and he misses 3-4-5-6 banks to win the game and ends up losing.
I don't take anything away from 14.1, it is a tough game too, but 1 pccket IMO requires many more skills!
As far as numbers go;
One pocket you only have to count to 8...
14.1 you have to be able to count to 15 and then sometimes subtract.
Adding helps ever further when you must add 8 and 6... most of the time that equals 14. started with 8, made 14, total 22 into new rack. Very difficult for a lot of players to be able to keep a running total, plus make all the correct markings with the beads or counters.
Now you have to be able to be smart enough to recognize the Key ball and Break ball, early in the rack OR be able to manufacture either or both, PLUS you have to be able to play in a 4 1/2 by 4 1/2 foot square 90% of the time.
As far as skill goes:
One Pocket is, IMO, more creative and shot impressive.
14.1 has some of the most boring shots and offers very little excitement, compared to One Pocket, although I am sure there are those that would argue this point. And, I admit I would have 20 years ago. But, 20 years ago there were a lot more 14.1 players.
One pocket you only have to count to 8...
14.1 you have to be able to count to 15 and then sometimes subtract.
Adding helps ever further when you must add 8 and 6... most of the time that equals 14. started with 8, made 14, total 22 into new rack. Very difficult for a lot of players to be able to keep a running total, plus make all the correct markings with the beads or counters.
Now you have to be able to be smart enough to recognize the Key ball and Break ball, early in the rack OR be able to manufacture either or both, PLUS you have to be able to play in a 4 1/2 by 4 1/2 foot square 90% of the time.
As far as skill goes:
One Pocket is, IMO, more creative and shot impressive.
14.1 has some of the most boring shots and offers very little excitement, compared to One Pocket, although I am sure there are those that would argue this point. And, I admit I would have 20 years ago. But, 20 years ago there were a lot more 14.1 players.
Straight pool is harder. If only because once you sit down, you may never get back to the table.
In one pocket, you have many chances at the table. Of course you have to make the most of those chances.
These are really the only two games I enjoy playing anymore.
In one pocket, you have many chances at the table. Of course you have to make the most of those chances.
These are really the only two games I enjoy playing anymore.
While its true that you get more chances at the table at one pocket than 14.1, that doesn't mean you will have a shot when you get there, lol. I've seen some pretty good one hole players play some lock down safetys that you just don't see in straight pool. One hole requires more imagination, pocket speed, ball control, and safety play than straight pool, so I vote one pocket tougher. One other thing, in one hole, many times you will only have one shot, whether it be a safety or an offensive shot, so if you get out of shape in one hole, its easy to sell out. In 14.1 on the other hand, if you get out of shape, its much easier to recover, or change your strategy because you have many more balls and six pockets to shoot at. Just my opinion of course.
Joe
Joe
I never developed much of a fondness for one pocket as it is a slow and tedious game to watch (for me). I do like 14-1 though I've played it very few times. From a viewer perspective, I would certainly favor 14-1.
One reason I didn't care so much for one pocket was my game used to be almost purely offensive - and it worked well for me. Shifting gears to a defensive mode that is almost always required for one pocket just wasn't part of my comfort zone. Nowadays I have no comfort zone, so one pocket might appeal more than it once did.
One reason I didn't care so much for one pocket was my game used to be almost purely offensive - and it worked well for me. Shifting gears to a defensive mode that is almost always required for one pocket just wasn't part of my comfort zone. Nowadays I have no comfort zone, so one pocket might appeal more than it once did.
I believe there's a little more luck in one pocket. The stress on each ball is more intense in straight pool. I would say those two games create a bigger gap between a better player and his opponent. I've gone a year or more playing guys straight pool and one pocket without ever losing a game to them, that isn't the case with any other game that I can think of.
No matter which game you're playing... The hardest game is the one you're playing....
I was a long time 8/9 ball only player, and have only in the last year really started to learn 1p/14.1. From a learning standpoint, if you are already a pool player playing 8/9 ball with some competency, I believe that 14.1 is the easier game to learn. Ball pocketing is already routine.
1p on the other hand, there is such a different mindset that even goes into it. Me and another member of the forums here will play 1p from time to time, but we have learned to always make it the LAST game we play. Because if we try to go FROM one pocket to a game, especailly 14.1, we will be stuck in the wrong mindset. It's DEFINTELY a different mindset from any other game of pool IMO.
1p on the other hand, there is such a different mindset that even goes into it. Me and another member of the forums here will play 1p from time to time, but we have learned to always make it the LAST game we play. Because if we try to go FROM one pocket to a game, especailly 14.1, we will be stuck in the wrong mindset. It's DEFINTELY a different mindset from any other game of pool IMO.
I believe a good 14.1 player can play one pocket at a higher level . I don't believe a good one pocket player can necessarily play 14.1 at a higher level. Strategy required for both. Shot making more for 14.1 player. Pocketing balls is the ultimate goal for both games as well...edge to 14.1 player
They are pretty close. Although with one pocket, you could be playing back and forth defense for an hour and a hard shot will come up that isn't a bank. You make it, game over. It's pretty tough to switch from "defense" to "gotta make this ball" shooting from the end rail to make a ball from the middle of the table. Things usually don't go that way in 14.1. There are a lot more "moves" so to speak in one pocket I think.
My vote is one pocket, but they are close.
My vote is one pocket, but they are close.